Match Story: Katina(Little Sister) and Ashley (Big Sister)
Little Sister Katina and Big Sister Ashley met in late October at J. Wallace James where they were matched in the School-Based mentoring program through a partnership with the Junior League. Katina is in the third grade and has been waiting excitedly for a Big Sister of her own. Ashley, one of several volunteers from the Junior League, has also been very excited to meet and share time with her Little. While excited, Katina was shy at first. But, once the ice was broken and conversation got moving they realized that they both love pizza and hate roaches. After visiting for a few minutes and learning more about each other’s likes and dislikes, Katina excitedly stopped Ashley and said, "WOW! We have SO much in common!" Toward the end of the Match Initiation, Katina asked her Case Manager if she could speak with her privately. Ashley was a little surprised and wondered what Katina was going to say. So, Ashley respectfully stepped out of the room and Katina said very proudly and excitedly to her Case Manager that "Ashley is the best Big Sister in the world!" As they walked back to Katina's classroom so that Ashley could meet her teacher, Katina introduced Ashley, saying proudly "This is my big sister!" to all the teachers and students they passed. She was so proud to show off her Big Sister. When they parted, she gave Ashley a big hug and told her she missed her already. Ashley commented, too, on her way out that they have a lot in common and she thinks it's going to be a wonderful experience and a great match!
$25 for 25 - Celebrating and Supporting 25 Years of Mentoring Children in Acadiana
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana is proud to be celebrating 25 years of mentoring service! Since 1985, we have provided thousands of caring adult mentors to children in the Acadiana area. To honor our silver anniversary and support these important programs, we are launching an online fundraiser, $25 for 25. For just $25, you can help provide opportunities for positive youth development to the children of Acadiana through our one-to-one mentoring programs. To make an online donation, or to create your own fundraising page, go to www.firstgiving.com/acadianabigs. Be BIG and show your support!
One Big Step ~ A Step Show to Promote Education was presented by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana on Saturday, May 1st from 1:30-3:30 at the Clifton Chenier Center.Although Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana focuses primarily on one-to-one mentoring, One Big Step was an attempt to reach out to the children on our waiting list, as well as those currently in our program, with a positive message about the importance of education.Performers included step teams from UL’s Alpha Phi Alpha & Sigma Gamma Rho, Comeaux High School and Northside High School.By showing examples of these talented individuals and groups, whose membership requires maintaining a certain GPA and upholding a Code of Conduct, One Big Step highlighted the importance of making good grades and reaching for higher education.Kenneth Boudreaux served as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.Other speakers included Tonya Bolden-Ball, Willy Ricks, Crystal Quillen and Aaron Williams who all serve as mentors and positive role models in our program.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Match Story ~ Deion and Marcus
Deion and Marcus were matched in the Site-Based, Mentoring for Success program this November. With just over 4 months of being matched, they are already showing great signs of friendship. Deion is a 7th grader at NP Moss Middle School. Marcus is a busy UL Student and active member of the Alpha Fraternity. Marcus visits Deion once a week at his school where the two enjoy talking with each other about things that are going on in their lives. Deion says that Marcus is always willing to listen to him and eager to help him find solutions to current problems. If Deion needs help with school work, Marcus makes sure to focus more on academics during their visits. Despit Marcus’ busy school and social schedule, he makes sure to set aside time for his weekly visit to NP Moss Middle. Marcus says that acting as a mentor in the BBBS program is one of the easiest and rewarding things he has done—it’s just a matter of commitment and consistency. Even though their match is site based, the two plan to continue conversation over the summer so they can stay informed and involved in each other’s lives.
Bowl For Kids' Sake 2010 ~ Celebrating 25 Years of Service was a huge success thanks to all of the wonderful community and corporate support!!!
We had over 60 teams that bowled with us and brought in over $21,000 in bowler donations alone!!! It was so fantastic to see so many people supporting our important one-to-one mentoring programs. What a way to BE BIG, Acadiana!!!
January is National Mentoring Month and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Acadiana is hoping to significantly increase the number of local mentors for disadvantaged young people
"We have a number of mentors in St. Landry Parish but we can use many more," said Alyson Haymark with the national mentoring program's Lafayette office. "We want to establish a satellite office in Opelousas to help spread the word."
One of the current volunteers is Iesha Gabriel, who works in the parish assessors office in Opelousas. For the past year she has served as a big sister to 10-year-old Keoni.
Gabriel, who recently graduated from Nicholls State University, said she had long known about the program and wanted to volunteer, but even so, she was surprised about the result.
"I expected it to be more of an obligation. I didn't expect it to be so much fun. I find myself actually looking forward to spending time with my little sister," Gabriel said.
She said Keoni was very shy and withdrawn at first. For their first outing together, they simply took a walk, talked about things they liked and started the process of getting to know each other.
"Now, if she has a bad day at school, she will call me and we will just talk. We are just there for each other," Gabriel said.
While the relationship is good for Keoni, Gabriel said it has been surprisingly rewarding for her as well.
"It makes me feel so much better; letting a child see that people really do care. It makes a world of difference," Gabriel said. "I am hoping for a lifetime friendship with Keoni."
It is such stories that Haymark wants to duplicate throughout the parish. To do so, Big Brothers and Big Sisters will hold the first of three planned orientation meetings for new volunteers Thursday.
"There is no commitment, this is just for information purposes to hopefully familiarize volunteers with our program," Haymark said.
Future orientation meetings will be Feb. 11 and Feb. 25. All the meetings will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the United Way building at 311 W. Vine St., Opelousas.
"In this orientation, potential volunteers will be introduced to the agency's screening process, the steps involved in being matched, as well as what to expect once you have become their Big Brother or Big Sister," Haymark said. "You will learn how you can help to create little moments of big magic for a child in St. Landry or Evangeline Parish."
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Acadiana provides continuous, one-on-one mentoring relationships for children ages six to 15 from primarily low-income, single-parent homes.
"Our mentors are carefully screened adult volunteers — Bigs as we call them — who meet with their Littles on a regular basis for a few hours each month either in our community-based or school-based program," Haymark said.
She said each match commitment is made for a year and can be renewed.
"All of our matches are monitored and supported by our agency staff. We also offer a variety of workshops and events for children in the program, parents of children who are matched and our volunteers," Haymark said.
She said her agency offers two basic programs — one community-based and the other school-based.
In the community-based program, the "Big" and "Little" agree to meet a couple of times each month for a minimum of a year.
The volunteer mentor and child participate in a wide variety of community-based activities that focus on relationship building. Activities may include a trip to the park, library or museum; going on a bike ride or roller skating; watching TV; playing sports; or doing homework together.
"This program offers the flexibility of participation in weekend or after-school or work activities," Haymark said.
In the school-based program, children from elementary and middle schools are match with volunteer mentors who meet with their "Little" once a week for 35-45 minutes throughout the school year.
"These are site-based visits where the Big meets his or her Little at their school. During the match visits, Bigs and Littles have access to all campus facilities and participate in a variety of activities that promote relationship building and academic success," Haymark said.
"These may include shared lunch, library time, goal sharing or reading together. This program offers the flexibility of daytime meetings for volunteers who may not be able to commit to weekend activities," Haymark said.
The Big Brother and Big Sister program has an impressive success rate. National studies have shown that youth involved with Big Brothers or Big Sisters are 46 percent less likely to initiate drug use and 27 percent less likely to initiate alcohol use than their peers.
Such children are one-third less likely to resort to violence and show better academic behavior, attitudes and performance.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana is part of a network of 500 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the country. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana was established in Lafayette, Louisiana in 1985. The agency matched its first one-to-one mentoring relationship in 1986 and currently serves hundreds of children in a six parish region of Acadiana including Lafayette, Acadia, Evangeline, St. Martin, St. Landry and Iberia Parish.
